The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-11-10

ScFeH pflSIlatC COiOfS-tH9e Vi toodISo
occupying the middle of the prism.
By the process Of nature, leaves in dry
ing descend in color from green, first
to yellow, then to orange, then to red,
and finally lose all color as they go to
decay. Noxa quick, dry heat, SO reg
ulated as to dry out the leaf and
catch the yellow and fr ii, IS the
modus operandi of curing fancy to-
bacco. l, Is estimated that barn of
TOO sticks, plants on stick, holds
along with the tobacco from 4,5oo to
5000 pounds of water, which must be
expelled in from IS to IS hours.
THE RAGLAND METHOD
is as follows: Ist, yellowing process, 90
degrees from IS to 48 hours I'D,
fixing color. 90 to o5 degrees from
I to hours from 95o to 1902 for 2
hours; from 1902 to 1859 for hours
from 1850 to 11oo from to 3 hours;
from 11oo to o115o for hours, and sd,
curing the leaf from 1I50 to 1902 70 2
hours, at which the leaf is cured in from
4 to 8 hours. 4th, the stalk is cured
by a temperature advancing from 1902
to 175o in about 50 an hour and keep
in the temperature at 175o until the
stalk is thoroughly cured in from z to
IS hours. When it is remembered that
no two plants are exactly alike, no two
barns precisely similar, and that the
slightest neglect, or mistake in the
proper application of the heat will re-
duce barn Of the finest grade to one
of very inferior quality, the importance
Of the curing process can't be over
, estimated and experience only will
m ke good tobacco cu-er.
TREATMENT OF TOBACCO AFTER CUR
: ING-BULKING DOWN.
When the stalk is thoroughly cured
dry, the fires are allowed to die out.
, The plant comes from the drying barn
always with little greenish tinge. In
the after treatment this fade; away,
S and it takes on a solid. bright yellow,
/, uniform thoughout. The tobacco is al
e lowed to remain with fires out and
i doors open for thirty-six hours, until
i it can be handled, 1t is then "bulked
:. down" in the packing house, butts Of
: the sticks out, in square piles. This
0 improves the color, by excluding light
S and air, and straightens out the leaves
r. rendering them smooth and neat ir
d appearance.
STRIPPING AND ASSERTING.
= Before the leaf is ready for marke
y, it has to be "stripped'' and assorted
8 into grades. Selecting suitable condi
!. tions of the atmosphere, called ga sea
. son." the tobacco bulked down a!
u y above described is then re-hung by ,h'
- sticks until it has come "in order;
* that is, has absorbed sufficient humid
:. ity SO the leaf can be handled withou
- . breakage. The assorter then strip
- - from each plant the leaves and assort
~ ~ them into their several grades. The
~ are then tied in bundles Of from six t
:. twelve leaves each and placed On stick
y. y and bulked down as before. The leave
y. of each grade must be uniform, AM
-. ~ bruised, worm eaten or injured leaf ex
- cluded from the best grades. So pal
~ ticular are the best planters, that tn
- " asserting houses are constructed with
49, window to the North, so that uniforl
. light may fall upon the leaf all da.
increase or decrease in the intensity {
.. ~ the light making it difficult to keep u
~ ~, the narrow line between the fine
-, grades.
,re GRADES OF TOBACCO.
Fine tobacco is variously grade'
bv The best average prices round are ol
in tanned by those who exercise most full
ne delicate discrimination, which r
nd suits, when the crop presents gre
ice variety, in large number of grade
va The attempt to match fine, coarse ar
on inferior leaves results in loss to Il
lrn planter and benefits only the rehandle
he First, there are "lugs," which are u
to ground or inferior leaves, and are U.s.
,ed for smokers and filters, and are ge
ms orally divided into three grades, SAL
nd lugs, medium or common, and nm
tv- the latter are used for straight-cut al
nd, cigarettes.
ng, Second. "Wrappers," graded
,dv common, medium, coed and extra
md fancy, and include dark mahoga
In wrappers, and the beautiful, brigl
to yellow, the subject of such extra'
nth CANT prices, reaching two and two a
vest a half dollars a pound. First gra
lea, wrappers are used on the best bran
md Of chewing tobacco, and the rest
the lower brands.
Mr.. Fourth. Clips" or top leaves, VIII
in are thicker, have more body, a
fol- make irs,-class filters. Tobacco co
ot,, manding highest prices has a VI
large leaf, bright yellow and maho
ny or a clear, whitish yellow, of &c
rim. body, with fine texture, toughness a
I he elasticity, an oily appearance, sn
.nr stems and fibres, and no holes or sp'
~sn, Body, size and color are indispensa
,;,s for the very best. Thin, papery
'.ss bacco, easily torn, brittle, inela.
.aS and lifeless, will not bring the
80. prices, no matter how fine the color
llow = MARKETING THE CROP.
''s s''nsesIAam not aware OF any industry,